Tightening device for flexible elements



Patented Mar. 2, 1926..

UNITED STATES RUSSELL E. BARNECK, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

TIGHTENING DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS.

Application filed April 9, 1924. Serial No. 705,248.

To all whowiit may concern:

Be it known that I, RUSSELL E. Bxnnncn, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tightening Devices for Flexible Elements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tightening devices for flexible elements, and an object is to provide a device which may be conveniently used for tightening clotheslines guy wires and ropes, wires for wire fences, and various other flexible elements which are ordinarily secured to fixed objects at both ends. Another object is to provide a device of this character which is inexpensive and easy to operate. I accomplish the objects of my invention by providing a longitudinal body member in the form of a short bar having two spaced lugs extending therefrom near one of its ends and upon which the flexible element to be tightened is wound after being placed between the two lugs.

The full objects and advantages of my invention Will appear in connection with the detailed description, and the novel features of my inventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a side elevational view of my device showing it in use. Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the device. Fig.3 is a view in section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the construction shownin the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the body member of the device. A. pair of lugs 12 and 14: spaced from each other extend out from the body member near one end thereof. These lugs are preferably longitudinally disposed and formed with their outer portions diverging from each other. As will be seen in Fig. 1 the lugs 12 and 14 curve divergent- 1y from each other whereby the tendency of the flexible element is to wind close to the body member 10. Extending from the same side of the body member near the other end thereof is a lug 16 which is much shorter than the lug 12 and 14 and is transversely curved so as to arovide a notch 18. In order that the device may be more conveniently given a rotative movement around the lugs 12 and 14:, it is preferably provided with a handle member 20 which extends out from the body member 10 opposite the lug 16.

The operation and advantages of my invention will now be readily understood. The use of the device is shown in Fig. 1 from which it will appear that the device is applied to the flexible element E to be tight ened with the flexible element extending between the lugs 12 and 1 1-. The device is then rotated in such manner as to wind the flexible element around the lugs 12 and 14. As shown in Fig. 1, one turn of the flexible element has been wound on the lugs but it will be understood that a large number of turns may be wound up where it is necessary in order to sufliciently tighten the flexible element. \Vhen wound to the desired extent, the flexible element is prevented from unwinding by engaging it in the notch 18. The device may be employed for tightening various flexible elements. One use for which it is well adapted is in tightening wires during the construction of wire fences in which the wires are first stretched loosely along the posts, and then beginning at one end are stretched tightly by the device from post to post and stapled into place. Since the wires are not given any sharp bends when wound on the device, they will be stretched smoothly as the device is carried along from place to place beyond successive posts. The device may be constructed of any suitable material and may be conveniently made as a single piece by casting from metal.

I claim:

A tightening device for flexible elements comprising a longitudinal body member; two spaced lugs extending out from said body member near one end thereof and upon which the flexible element may be wound after it has been placed between the same said lugs being longitudinally disposed and curving divergently from each other a shorter transversely curved lug extending out from the same side of said body member near the other end thereof for preventing the woundup flexible element from unwinding, and a handle member extending out from said body member opposite said curved lug.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

RUSSELL E. BARNEGK. 

